BEIJING’S AVERAGE MONTHLY RENTAL RATES OF $6,300 TO $13,000 FOR A THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT COULD BE AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE TO COMPANIES SENDING EMPLOYEES ON EXPATRIATE ASSIGNMENTS TO CHINA, SAID KEITH HANSON, COUNTRY MANAGER IN CHINA FOR CROWN WORLDWIDE, WHICH OPENED AN ATLANTA OFFICE IN MARCH.
DURING A SEMINAR AT THE SWISS‘TEL ON OCT. 11, MR. HANSON SAID THAT GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON WHICH AREAS OF THE CITY FOREIGNERS MAY LIVE IN KEEP PRICES IN BEIJING HIGH, AND AVAILABILITY LOW. SHANGHAI IS SLIGHTLY CHEAPER, HE ADDED, WITH RENTS STARTING AT AROUND $5500.
TRANSPORTATION IS ALSO A PROBLEM IN CHINA, HE SAID, AND IS USUALLY LIMITED TO TAXIS OR PRIVATE CARS, WITH TAXIS BEING THE PREFERRED MODE OF TRAVEL. A 125% LUXURY TAX ON IMPORTED AUTOS CAN DRIVE THE PRICE OF A FORD TAURUS UP TO $52,400, MR. HANSON SAID.
A SHORTAGE OF SUITABLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS AND A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS BELOW WESTERN STANDARDS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PLANNING AN OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT IN CHINA, HE SAID.
THE SEMINAR WAS SPONSORED BY CROWN PACIFIC, THE U.S. BRANCH OF CROWN WORLDWIDE, AN INTERNATIONAL RELOCATION SERVICE WITH 1995 SALES OF OVER $150 MILLION, AND FEATURED PRESENTATIONS BY SENIOR MANAGERS FROM HONG KONG, CHINA, MALAYSIA, VIETNAM AND LONDON.
JOHN LIBRETTO, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ATLANTA OFFICE, TOLD GLOBALFAX IN AN INTERVIEW ON OCT. 21 THAT ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES EACH PROVIDE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR EXPATRIATES, ONE PROBLEM COMMON TO ASSIGNMENTS IN ALL COUNTRIES IS HOW TO MAKE BOTH PERSONAL AND BUSINESS CONTACTS.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL BARRIERS CAN KEEP EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM MAKING FRIENDS AND GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WHOM THEY NEED TO DO BUSINESS WITH, MR. LIBRETTO SAID.
TO EASE THE TRANSITION, CROWN REGULARLY SCHEDULES SOCIAL FUNCTIONS AND EDUCATES ASSIGNEES ABOUT THE LOCAL CULTURE, HE ADDED.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CROWN WORLDWIDE AND THEIR SERVICES, MR. LIBRETTO MAY BE REACHED AT (770) 934-3000; FAX (770) 934-8900.